Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow has spoken out on the team’s contract disputes ahead of the new NFL season.
The Bengals’ training camp kicked off Wednesday, however two members of the roster were noticeably absent from the Kettering Health Practice Fields as their standoffs with the team rumble on.
Edge rushers Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart refused to report to training as their contract drama continued, despite only 46 days remaining until the 2025 season gets underway.
And Burrow admitted the dual absences were ‘obviously disappointing’ as he addressed the media Wednesday.
‘You’d like to have all your guys out there Day 1 to try to build that cohesion that I was talking about earlier, but that’s not how it usually works out,’ Burrow said, via Ben Baby of ESPN.
‘You know, it’s a business,’ Burrow added. Baby noted that the quarterback paused and deeply sighed before continuing with, ‘And that is how it’s gone.’
Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow has spoken out on the team’s contract disputes
The Bengals’ training camp kicked off Wednesday, however two players were absent
The situation mirrors the Bengals’ preseason last year when Ja’Marr Chase’s contract dispute interrupted training camp.
Chase refused to practice during the summer and only took to the field when the regular season started. The Bengals went on to finish 9-8 and failed to make the playoffs.
‘The earlier you get these things done, the better,’ Burrow said, before admitting he understood the business side of the operation.
‘Nobody’s ever gonna fault the player for doing business how he feels he needs to,’ Burrow continued. ‘It’s cutthroat business. You gotta fight for everything you can get. That’s how it goes.’
Hendrickson and the Bengals have been locked in talks over a long-term extension, with neither side seemingly willing to give an inch in the negotiations.
As a result, the veteran left Ohio this week, sharing an Instagram story Tuesday which showed him in his home state, Florida.
Hendrickson is a native of Orlando and played his college football at Florida Atlantic University before being taken in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.
He joined the Bengals in free agency in 2021 – signing a four-year, $60million contract with the team – and became a star for Cincinnati. Hendrickson helped the Bengals reach Super Bowl LVI in his first season with the team, made the Pro-Bowl each year in Cincinnati, and was named to the All-Pro first-team this last season.
Trey Hendrickson has threatened to sit out the entire season if he isn’t given a new contract
First-round pick Shemar Stewart has been holding out over language in his rookie contract
But no extension has been given to him just yet and Hendrickson is willing to dig his heels in – refusing to play or practice until he gets a new contract.
Meanwhile, Stewart has also fled the state with the 2025 first-round pick returning to his alma mater rather than report to training camp.
A 21-year-old defensive end from Texas A&M, Stewart has been holding out over language in his rookie contract related to guarantees.
Just last week, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko dismissed speculation Stewart could return to NCAA football amid the dispute, but that didn’t stop Stewart from posting a pH๏τo on Instagram from Monday’s training session in College Station, Texas.
Stewart, the 17th pick, skipped offseason workouts over the contract dispute stemming from various guarantees in the Bengals’ offer. He’s would get a signing bonus of $10.4 million if and when he does sign.
